Residents continue to get the Moderna bivalent shot, but some waiting for Pfizer
The Moderna bivalent booster has been available to adults since Sept. 26, but it seems like the rush to get vaccinated might be over. Some might just be waiting for Pfizer’s new shot.
Liz Davies is about to get her fifth COVID shot. She says the pandemic is far from over and thinks being vaccinated is still very important.
“I’m hoping for the most recent one, the Pfizer one. But I’ll take whatever they give me,” says Davies. “You can’t assume just because it’s over that it’s really over. So I’m just looking to protect myself and my family the best way I can.”
Davies will get the Moderna bivalent shot, but Dennis Riopelle wants to keep all his vaccines with the same manufacturer, Pfizer.
“I’m looking for the Pfizer 4-5. And so if they don’t have it, then I’m not going to stay,” says Riopelle. “They approved it last week and I wanted to find out if they’ve received it. If they have not received it, then I’m just going to wait for it.”
Barb Grisdale is getting her fifth dose as well. All her previous shots were also Pfizer, but she says she doesn’t want to wait for those doses to show up at clinics.
“I’ve had Pfizer all along,” says Grisdale. “And I know it’s been approved but obviously it’s not delivered yet I guess. So I’ll give Moderna a crack.”
For some, it seems like being vaccinated isn’t a priority like it used to be.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch says it is partly because of a communication issue from public health.
“If we really want to see good uptake, especially among those who need it the most, those over the age of 60 and those with underlying medical conditions, you really have to take those communication steps, community engagement steps, and lowering barrier steps to get people vaccinated,” says Bogoch.
According to Ottawa Public Health, as of Tuesday, 30,634 Moderna Spikevax Bivalent vaccines have been administered in Ottawa; 28,776 of those are fourth doses.
“I’m getting my fifth COVID shot and I’m happy to hear it’s the bivalent,” says Stella Val. “So hopefully it will deal with the Omicron virus.”
“I think it’s the best protection for myself and everyone I care about,” says Blue Morgan. “And people I don’t even know.”
Riopelle was offered a Moderna shot. He decided not to get it and will come back for Pfizer.
“I’m ready to wait,” says Riopelle. “I think that’s what a lot of people will do as well. Because I want to stick specifically to Pfizer which I have not had any issues with. Not even a sore arm. So I’m sticking with it.”
Liz Davies on the other hand, happy she’s walking away today with a little more protection.
“I had a charming fellow who gave me the shot,” says Davies. “He was so good at distracting me I didn’t even feel it go in.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE Following his conviction in hush money case, Trump speaks at news conference
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is holding a news conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
opinion Six ways to put your saving on autopilot and pay yourself first
In his latest personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew explains how automating your savings and paying yourself has never been easier, thanks to the digital banking tools and apps that are out there.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
ANALYSIS Will Donald Trump go to prison? What the precedent says
Now that the jury in Donald Trump's criminal trial has made the historic decision to convict him, the judge overseeing the case will soon face a monumental choice: whether to sentence the 2024 Republican presidential candidate to time behind bars.
Reactions pour in to Donald Trump's first-ever felony conviction for a former U.S. president
After hours of deliberations, a jury of Donald Trump's New York City peers convicted him on 34 counts, making him the first the former U.S. president in history with a felony conviction.